Ok I have to admit it...winter is probably my least favorite season for beer styles. While I enjoy the occasional wee-heavy or big stout, I'd much rather drink something that is lighter yet still has that "winter warmer" type of vibe that you can enjoy by the fire.
So, coming after my fall dunkel (see my earlier post with recipe), I was wondering what to brew next. I thought about a scottish wee-heavy but then decided that I didn't want something quite so sweet and heavy. Plus I was felling guilty (...ok, not really) about drinking something so heavy in January when alot of people were doing the "dry" thing.
I read a few articles about scottish styles and came the scottish export (https://beerandbrewing.com/make-your-best-scottish-export-ale/). At around 5% it seemed like the perfect fit. But...how to embellish it for the winter season? How about by adding cocoa nibs and bourbon? Why not give it a try. See my recipe here (https://share.brewfather.app/dpvZUXnb9peScy).
How was the final product? Really nice...drinks easily but the cocoa adds some complexity and that "winter vibe" I was looking for. This one is very chocolate forward but finishes as a nice easy drinker. I have to say that I don't get much bourbon out of this so I would either add more or forego it altogether next time.
And...by the way...look at how clear this beer is! Would you think that I am serving it on top of the yeast cake? I'm guessing not...more to come on that in another post.
Prost and happy winter!
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